Gifted Parents … Who Cares?

After 20 years in the parenting business, I often ask myself if what I do really makes a difference. If I were a betting person, I’d say the odds are pretty good that you’ve wondered about this, too.

In most professions, you can often judge your worth by how often people ask for your opinion. When was the last time you were asked about raising a gifted child? Did your child’s school ever ask for your input concerning your child’s education? How often do researchers or gifted advocacy groups ask for your opinion? Occasionally, some do (the good ones); but most of the time … not so much.

Considering the state of gifted education in most parts of the world … mediocre to non-existent … perhaps more experts should be talking to parents. We’ve already seen the first decade of the 21st century come and go, yet little has changed in the gifted community. Funny thing is … the world has changed in unimaginable ways since the close of the 20th century! So, what’s up with that?

Social and political change have become commonplace in a world where grassroots movements can come into existence and effect change in a very short time. When someone tweets, hundreds and even thousands listen. It doesn’t matter if you’re 40-something sitting in a plush D.C. office with a state of the art computer or a 14 year old kid in a remote village with a cellphone and internet connection … your voice can be heard around the globe.

Can you see where this is going? It is time for parents of gifted children to stop making excuses and start doing some advocating. There are a lot of kids – not just your own – who are counting on YOU!

The internet and the myriad of social networking sites who call it home have made the task at hand fairly simple. Gifted parents need to connect and communicate. Take your pick from among the many platforms available … Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs … whatever you feel most comfortable with. Let’s get connected!

It will be an exhilarating experience; guaranteed! Parents of gifted children face the same struggles, express concern about the same issues, and worry about their kids just like you regardless of where they live. Coming together to seek positive solutions will benefit the entire community. Who knows? Maybe even the ‘powers that be’ will notice the strength inherent in our numbers. What could be accomplished if everyone worked together?

If you would like to connect with me, follow this blog and those listed in my blog list at right or click on the link in the sidebar to follow me on Twitter! You see … I believe that parents really can make a difference!